8 months ago
Himachal Pradesh Faces Healthcare Disruptions
In Himachal Pradesh, ambulance workers and doctors are protesting.
Ambulance workers are on a two-day strike because they say they are not being paid enough and are being treated unfairly.
This has stopped ambulance services across the state.
At the same time, many doctors took a day off to protest because one of their colleagues, Dr. Raghav Narula, was fired.
They say he was fired unfairly after an argument with a patient.
Because of the protest, many hospitals had very few doctors, and some patients had to wait a long time or had their surgeries postponed.
The doctors want Dr. Narula to be reinstated and for the hospital to be safer.
The ambulance workers and doctors are both asking the government to fix these problems.
Ambulance employees in Himachal Pradesh are on a two-day strike demanding better wages and working conditions.
Doctors in Himachal Pradesh, including those at IGMC Shimla, took mass casual leave protesting the termination of Dr. Raghav Narula.
The strike and leave have disrupted ambulance services and reduced hospital functioning to 20-30%, postponing surgeries and causing long waits for patients.
Dr. Narula was terminated following an altercation with a patient, with doctors demanding his reinstatement and improved security.
Protests and rallies in support of Dr. Narula were held in Shimla and his hometown, Paonta Sahib.
- Who
- Ambulance employees and resident doctors in Himachal Pradesh
- What
- Two-day strike by ambulance employees and mass casual leave by doctors
- Where
- Himachal Pradesh, India (statewide)
- When
- December 26-27, 2023 (ambulance strike); December 22-27, 2023 (doctors' leave)
- Why
- Ambulance employees demand implementation of labour laws and payment of minimum wages; doctors protest against the termination of Dr. Raghav Narula
Key facts
- Strike Duration
- 2 days (December 26-27)
- Strike Location
- Statewide in Himachal Pradesh
- Strike Organizers
- 108 and 102 Ambulance Employees Union (CITU-affiliated)
- Key Demands
- Implementation of labour laws, payment of minimum wages, end to harassment
- Affected Services
- 108 and 102 ambulance services
- Alleged Issues
- 12-hour shifts without overtime, EPF and ESI irregularities, unpaid compensation
- Protest Locations
- District headquarters, National Health Mission MD's office (Shimla), Medswan Foundation HQ (Dharampur, Solan)
- Mass Leave Protest
- 2,800 doctors, including junior and senior residents
- Terminated Doctor
- Dr. Raghav Narula
- Incident Location
- Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC), Shimla
- Impact on Services
- 20-30% functioning, postponed surgeries, long waiting hours
- Patient Complaints
- Unavailability of doctors, lack of prior notice
- Doctor's Demands
- Reinstatement of Dr. Narula, strengthened security, legal action against threats
- Support Rally
- Paonta Sahib, Sirmaur district
Timeline
Arjun, accused of murder, allegedly assaulted a doctor at IGMC Shimla.
Video of altercation sparks public outrage, demands Dr. Raghav Narula's punishment.
IGMC terminates Dr. Raghav Narula following altercation.
Medical professionals protest termination, disrupting services.
Ambulance workers, doctors strike against unfair treatment, colleague's dismissal.
Quotes
Dr. Sohail Sharma
The RDA president.
“We placed all facts and evidence before the Chief Minister. He assured us that a detailed and fair inquiry would be conducted. However, until concrete action is taken, our demands remain unchanged.”
thestatesman.com
“The chief minister gave a patient hearing to their demands, assured action against the mob, which allegedly threatened the doctor inside the hospital and affected medical services.”
theprint.in
Krishna Devi
A patient who traveled from Theog for treatment of leg pain at IGMC on Friday.
“The patients are facing a lot of inconvenience as the doctors are not available.”
theprint.in
Jeevan Ram
A patient from Kumarsein in Shimla who came for his sister’s MRI test.
“He had been given another date for the test.”
theprint.in
Tusli Ram
An 80-year-old patient from Nankheri.
“Now, again, I would have to travel all the way for a checkup.”
theprint.in
Sources
Ambulance services disrupted in Himachal as workers goes on two-day strike
Doctor-patient brawl: Resident doctors to go on strike demanding reinstatement of IGMC medic
108, 102 Ambulance Employees Begin 2-Day Statewide Strike in Himachal Pradesh, Services Disrupted
Shimla: IGMC Resident Doctors announce indefinite strike from Dec 27 over safety concerns
Himachal Doctors Meet CM Sukhu, Seek Probe Into Dr Raghav Narula Case
Himachal Pradesh doctors on mass leave today over termination of colleague
Shimla doctor’s dismissal sparks mass leave protest; IGMC services hit
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